Things are not going well for the Philadelphia Eagles, especially on defense.
In Week 13, the Eagles were routed by the San Francisco 49ers. After the Philadelphia defense forced the 49ers to punt on their first two offensive possessions, the Eagles defense couldn’t stop the 49ers for the rest of the game, allowing touchdowns on each of San Francisco’s final six possessions (excluding the last, which ended in victory formation).
Those struggles continued into Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys scored a touchdown on the game’s opening possession. Dallas followed that with a field goal and another touchdown. Philadelphia kicked a field goal to trim the deficit to 17-6. But Dallas marched down the field and scored with 20 seconds remaining on a one-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to Michael Gallup.
So, if we exclude the kneel-downs from the 49ers, the Eagles went into halftime of Sunday’s Eagles game allowing nine touchdowns and one field goal on their last 10 defensive possessions.
The Cowboys have scored three touchdowns and kicked one field goal in their first four drives against the Eagles.
Last week, the 49ers scored TDs on their last six possessions (excluding victory formation) against the Eagles. pic.twitter.com/PPSiIA9xCd
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 11, 2023
Understandably, the defense was heavily criticized after the abysmal start in Dallas.
Eagles defense pic.twitter.com/hHXSOXxlHG
— Devan Kaney (@Devan_Kaney) December 11, 2023
Eagles organizational philosophy when building the defense is to over-invest in the pass rush at every turn.
On third downs this season, the Eagles are sacking opposing quarterbacks 5.1% of the time. That's the worst rate in the NFL.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) December 11, 2023
Me anytime the Eagles defense needs a stop on a 3rd and 20+ pic.twitter.com/e5GG9uTCOR
— Marlo Stanfield (@BooRxdley) December 11, 2023
The Eagles' defense gave up a total of 11 touchdown drives of 75+ yards in the first 11 games of the season.
They have now given up 8 against the 49ers and Cowboys in the last five quarters.
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) December 11, 2023
The Eagles defense is a legit problem.
— Joe DeCamara (@JoeDeCamara) December 11, 2023
Fortunately for the Eagles, the first two defensive possessions of the second half against the Cowboys went a lot better. Philadelphia forced a punt on the first series then did even better on the second. Fletcher Cox got a strip sack on Dak Prescott and Jalen Carter scooped up the loose ball for a touchdown.
Things looking a bit better now, as Eagles force a punt and now get a scoop-and-score on their first two defensive possessions of the second half. pic.twitter.com/k5hyztXOId
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 11, 2023
Whether that’s a sign of a real turnaround or just a slight blip on the radar remains to be seen.
